Love and Other Surprises Read Online Free PDF

shower before she ran out of hot water, the view from the bedroom…
    Why am I thinking about Matt and the bedroom?
Ali silently chided. This behavior was totally unlike her. If she was going to be the epitome of poise and professionalism, she couldn’t afford to have her thoughts traveling down such dangerously distracting paths.
    She picked up the tray, fixed a bright smile on her face and headed for the living room. “The tea will be ready in a moment. Would you care for a cookie?”
    “No, thanks.” Matt’s eyes followed her as she set the tray on the coffee table and seated herself on the camelback sofa across from him. The knowledge that he was watching her made her uncharacteristically edgy. She was relieved when Flipper jumped in her lap, and she stroked the little dog’s head, glad to have something to do with her hands.
    Matt straightened in his chair. “Ali, I came by to continue our discussion. We need to get this thing settled.” He leaned forward and cleared his throat. “Look, I’m sorry if I came on a little strong earlier.”
    That was an understatement. Ali generously decided to let it slide.
    “I’ve been giving this situation some thought, and it dawned on me what you’re after,” he continued.
    “What I’m after?” she echoed, furrowing her brow.
    Matt nodded. “I don’t blame you a bit. In your shoes, I’d be exactly the same way.”
    Ali regarded him quizzically. “What way is that? I’m afraid I’m not following you.”
    Matt’s lips curled into a tight smile. “There’s no need to play coy. I understand your concerns, and I want to reassure you that the company is being properly managed. If you like, I can let your attorney look at the books to set your mind at ease.”
    What on earth was he talking about? The fire crackled and hissed, and Ali bristled. She didn’t like the inference that she was somehow being underhanded. “I’ve never played coy in my life,” she informed him, “and I don’t have any concerns about your management abilities. Robert trusted you, so I do, too.”
    Matt shook his head, dismissing her comment with a wave of his hand. “If the situation were reversed, I’d be looking for a way to keep an eye on things, too. After all, we don’t know each other very well, and it’s only natural that you’d want to look out for your own interests. But you really don’t have to go to such lengths to keep me honest.” His mouth tightened again. “Robert was my best friend, and I’m not going to cheat his little sister. I’ll be happy to do whatever I can to reassure you of that fact. If you like, I can submit copies of all checks issued on the company account to your attorney or to any accountant you care to designate.”
    He thinks I’m only interested in keeping an eye on my inheritance.
The realization rankled; how unfair of him to assume her motives were mercenary! She’d known he was the practical sort, but was he so unfeeling, so motivated purely by facts and figures that he thought everyone else was, too? Ali opened her mouth to protest, then abruptly shut it again.
    Getting on the defensive wouldn’t advance her cause. Besides, what did she expect him to think? He didn’t know her from Adam. She needed to explain her motives to get him to listen to her ideas. He might think she was foolish, but it was a risk she had to take.
    Ali put the dog on the floor and clasped her fingers tightly in her lap. “I’m not looking for a way to keep you honest. I want to be involved because this project was Robert’s dream, and I want to play a part in making it come true.”
    Matt’s tawny eyes took her measure. “What do you even know about the Victorian Village?”
    “I was with him when he hit on the idea. He was visiting me in Dallas and we were browsing through an antique store. All of a sudden his face lit up and he asked me what I thought of the idea of building an entire community of Victorian-style homes.”
    Matt nodded, his face